>> I have wondered, about the “altar call”, “born again” meaning of accepting Jesus into your heart one time as your personal Lord and Savior and you are saved.
Who came up with this belief? Who first wrote about it? I think it’s Evangelical, doesn’t come from traditional Protestantism.<<
Cynical Bear:
“Faith saves.”
~ ~ ~
You are dear CB but this is not an answer to my question about the “altar call”, on it’s history. Nor one example from Scripture the “altar call” is the meaning of “born again.” Where is the physical, the water?
Accepting into your heart Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour one time is not being “born again.” Further on in John 3, verse 22, Jesus went out and Baptized! Seee.... Protestant “born again” may be a moment of conversion but it is not Baptism as Jesus speaks about nor does it save you.
The examples, all private judgment, the in bold to defend Martin Luther’s “Faith alone.” The bolded spoke of being “perfected”, “sanctification”, “righteousness” and the verse, Paul stating FALSE works never save you, everyone accepts this. None of those words mean Salvation. And no where is there anything in God’s revelation that says “faith” alone justifies you.
John 3:16 is more example of private judgment to defend “faith alone.” That verse is taken out of context and isolated to make it sound like it’s all you need.
Luther tried to remove the Book of James, no wonder...
What of this verse from James?
James 2:24
Do you see that by works a man is justified; and NOT by faith only.
James 2:24
Do you see that by works a man is justified; and NOT by faith only.<<
How about we let Jesus answer that question?
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:28-29
The physical actions do not cause the spiritual reality to happen.
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Baptism does not save anyone because it cannot; it is not a blood sacrifice.
I don't know why you keep harping on *altar calls*. Nobody ever said that that is what saves someone and that is what the meaning of being born again is.
Sometimes people are saved at that time, but it is not the procedure which saves them, it's just where they happen to be when they have the opportunity to accept Christ's gift of salvation.
I was born again at work when I accepted Christ. I know people who were born again in their living room.
It can happen anywhere anytime someone decides to turn their lives over to Jesus and accept His free gift of salvation by faith.
Protestant “born again” may be a moment of conversion but it is not Baptism as Jesus speaks about nor does it save you.
If conversion does not save you, then exactly what are you being converted from or to or whatever?
If you're lost and are converted, the only option is to be saved. If you are converted, you are saved. It's the only thing a lost person can be converted TO.